Cost of Renting or Purchasing a Home. In 2011, home prices and mortgage rates fell so far that in a number of cities the monthly cost of owning a home was less expensive than renting. The following data show the average asking rent for 10 markets and the monthly mortgage on the median priced home (including taxes and insurance) for 10 cities where the average monthly mortgage payment was less than the average asking rent (The Wall Street Journal, November 26-27, 2011).

City	Rent ($)	Mortgage ($)
Atlanta	840	539
Chicago	1,062	1,002
Detroit	823	626
Jacksonville	779	711
Las Vegas	796	655
Miami	1,071	977
Minneapolis	953	776
Orlando	851	695
Phoenix	762	651
St. Louis	723	654

• a.

Develop a scatter chart for these data, treating the average asking rent as the independent variable. Does a simple linear regression model appear to be appropriate?

• b.

Use a simple linear regression model to develop an estimated regression equation to predict the monthly mortgage on the median-priced home given the average asking rent. Construct a plot of the residuals against the independent variable rent. Based on this residual plot, does a simple linear regression model appear to be appropriate?

• c.

Using a quadratic regression model, develop an estimated regression equation to predict the monthly mortgage on the median-priced home, given the average asking rent.

• d.

Do you prefer the estimated regression equation developed in part (a) or part (c)? Create a plot of the linear and quadratic regression lines overlaid on the scatter chart of the monthly mortgage on the median-priced home and the average asking rent to help you assess the two regression equations. Explain your conclusions.